Wrexham are through to the third round of the Carabao Cup after coming from behind to beat Preston North End on Tuesday night.
Wrexham’s Championship campaign has yet to really catch fire, but the Carabao Cup is really providing the drama.
Phil Parkinson saw Wrexham rescue a 3-3 draw against Hull City in the first round, scoring two late goals to force penalties – and a victory.
Wrexham came from behind again on Tuesday night, finding two second-half goals to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Preston North End.
Harry Ashfield’s deflected strike drew Wrexham level, before Kieffer Moore made a big impact off the bench by scoring the winning goal.
Wrexham have drawn Reading in round three, and seeing a homegrown talent make a big impact will have made the victory even sweeter.
Phil Parkinson on Harry Ashfield v Alfie Devine
Harry Ashfield was handed a start in the Wrexham midfield, just as he was against Hull City earlier in the competition.
Wrexham may have made a raft of new signings this summer, but Parkinson has still put his faith in Ashfield to perform in the Carabao Cup.
The teenager has taken his chance, hauling Wrexham level with a deflected strike in another encouraging display.
Ashfield may have wondered about his role in the Wrexham squad, having not even been brought on against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon.
Wrexham legs were tiring in midfield and yet Ashfield still wasn’t brought on, but the youngster has staked his claim for more action.
Speaking on Wrexham’s official YouTube channel, Parkinson praised Preston North End midfielder Alfie Devine as a ‘highly-rated’ player.
Parkinson noted that Devine is ‘valued at a lot of money’ and saw the PNE talent as a great test for Ashfield.
Parkinson felt that Ashfield certainly gave as good as he got against Devine, and completely ruled out any loan exit for the teenager.
Ashfield has a genuine chance of first-team action in Parkinson’s eyes, and there is now no chance of him landing a loan move.
“We spoke to him before the game, he was up against Alfie Devine, who’s a highly-rated player, valued at a lot of money, on loan from Tottenham,” said Parkinson.
“I thought ‘what a great test’, I said ‘I hope tonight, after the game, that everyone is talking about you and not Alfie Devine’, and I think they are.
“I thought he showed terrific determination to get top-side of the player he was playing against, culminating in the goal and what a special moment for him, and everybody connected with the club and, obviously, his family.
“It’s very special, isn’t it, to have a player like Harry in the group? He’s earned the right to be in the team and in the squad on a regular basis, because every day in training, he trains with high quality and enthusiasm and he’s got a determination to be part of this group.
“People have been saying to me ‘is he going on loan?’, well I can tell you categorically, the answer is ’no’, because I think Ashy has got a part to play – well, I don’t think, I know he has,” he added
Wrexham were interested in signing Alfie Devine
Parkinson’s comments on Devine are interesting, given that the midfielder could have been playing for Wrexham on Tuesday night.
Reports suggested that Wrexham were interested in signing Devine before he joined PNE on loan.
North End won the race and hold an option to buy Devine next summer, though the required fee could be out of reach.
Wrexham may just continue to keep tabs on Devine for a potential future move, especially after an impressive display on Tuesday night.
For now, though, Wrexham can be proud of Ashfield’s development and will have genuine hope of seeing him nail down a first-team role in the not-too-distant future.